Latch



Jan. s, 1929.

L. A. DEXTER LATCH Filed March 22, 1927 Patented Jan. 8, 19295.

. UNITED STATES -1,697,950 PATENT oEFlcE.

LUcIEN A.. DEXTER, or GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

LATGII.

Application led March 22, 1927. Serial No. 177,252.

This invention relates to a door latch of the type used for releasably holding doors in 'closed position, wherein the latch is located in a recess or mortise in the edge of the door and is operated b the usual door knobs, one connected at eac end of aibar, usually square in v cross section, which passes through the door tical and serviceable-latch which is easily installed and which is sure and effective in its operations. Particularly, the latch as-constructed is always free in itsworkingsA and does not stick or bind after being in service for a time.' Moreover the constructionv is one which, in its assembly, is especially simple. For an understanding of the invention whereby these ends, as well as others not stated, are. attained', reference may be had to the fol lowing description taken -in connection with nthe accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig, 1 is a longitudinal vertical' section through the latch with the latch bolt Ain vits normal projected position. c. I

Fig. 2.is a like view showingthe' bolt retracted. f

. Fig. r3 is a fragmentary enlarged vvertical 'i section taken transversely through a door with the latch of my invention installed therein, the section beingsubstantially in the plane of the operating member for the latch, and

Fig. 4 illustrates in perspective certain elements ofthe latch bolt operating mechanism disassembled and separated from each other.

Like reference characters refer to likey door when the latchis assembled therewith.

l Within theouter end of the cylindrical housing thus made a rod 5 is located centrally and lengthwise of the housing, to whicha head 6 is attached, the same normally projecting through an opening in the plate 4. This rod 5 and head 6 make a latch bolt and lthe head is provided with the ordinarily beveled strike side (not shown) common to latch bolts of this character. yAt its inner end the rod 5 is equipped with a somewhat enlarged head 7 between which and the` main body of the rod 5 is a flattened section 8 adapted to detachably connect with a disc 9 slotted at one side, at v10, the slot at its inner end` joining with a substantially circular open- 'ing 11, as'shown in Fig. 4. The flattened portion 8 passesreadily through the slot 10 and is received in the opening 11. A coiled spring 12 of light strength is located around rod 5 between the head 6 and the disc 9 as shown.

The disc 9 is permanently secured at the outer end of a U-shaped member of sheet metal which has two spaced apart legs 13 connected at their inner ends by a cross portion 14. The outer ends of the legs 13 pass through suitable openings in the disc 9 and are riveted toy make a secure and permanent connection therewith. At the inner side of each of the legs 13 two notches or recesses 15 and 16, of theI form shown, are made, the notches 15 being cut deeper than notches l1,6 and being located back thereof. Back ofthe notches 15 and between the inner ends of le s 13, is'a rectangular recess 17. A relative y strong coiledspring 18 is disposed between the bottom ofthe cap 2 and the cross portion 14; of theU-shaped member, the tendency of which is to force said U-shaped member and the latching bolt connected therewith in an outward direction.

At opposite sides of the U-shaped member des ibed, two members pressed from sheet me al are located, each comprising `a ange' 19 fromthe center of which a cap 20 is pressed outwardly, the outer portion 21 of which is reduced in diameter. Each of the caps has a square opening 22 in its end. To one of the flanges 19 two shouldered pins 23 are secured in spaced apart relation, while the flange 19 'of the opposite member. has suitable openings to receive the reduced free ends of the pins 23. The parts 1 of the cy' lindrical housing have openings made therethrough in which the reduced end portions 21 of the caps are received as shown in Fig'. 3.

This locates the legs 13 of the U-shaped `member between the flanfres 19 with the pms 23 extending across and 1n front of the rear edge portions of the recesses 15 in said legs 13, as shown in Fig-1. Y

When the latch is 'installed on a door, indicated at 24 in Fig. 3, the housing with the latch bolt and operating structure described, is inserted in a cylindrical opening bored in the edge of a door and a square operating bar 25 is passed through the door through an opening made for that purpose, the vsame passing through the square openings 22 described as made in the ends of thecaps 20. The usual knobs 26, a fragment only of which are shown in Fig. 3, are attac-hed to the ends of the bar 25 with the usual rosettes 27 between the knobs and the door.

It is evidentthat on turning a knob at either side of the door in eitherdirection, one of the pins 23 will engage against the rear shoulder of the recess 15 in which it is located and will retract the bolt, compressing the spring 18 and moving the other pin until it is stopped by seating in the recess 16 in front of the recess 15 engagedby the first pin. This operation is illustrated in Fig. 2 andthe bolt is retracted so as to withdraw the head 6 and bring its outer end substantially flush with the outer surface of the plate 4. Such operation will occur' irrespective of which way the bar 25 is turned. When the door is closed the beveled side of the head 6 riding against the strike plate on the door jamb causes the bolt to move inwardly with a compression of the spring 12, and as soon as the latch reaches proper position the spring 12 projects the' head 6 out- Ward to connect said head withythe strike plate on the door casing or jamb. D

`This construction is very economical lto produce. The U-shaped member, the disc 9 and the two cap mem-bers with their flanges 19, are of sheet metal which can be worked very rapidly by means of suitable dies so as to make a large quantity production at low cost. The construction is perfect in its operation and does not get out of order, does not bind or stick in the housing and; remains operable for an indefinite period. The constructionhab proved very satisfactory and is being manufactured and sold in large quantities. The invention is defined in theappended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all `.forms of structure coming within their scope.

`1. A door latch comprising a substantially cylindrical barrel, a latch bolt mounted therein and having a head at one end ada-pted to project beyond an4 end of the barrel,

said latch bolt including a U-shaped mein;`

through the cylinder and between the legs of' said U-shaped member, an operating device comprising two members of sheet metal each having an annular flange and a cap pressed centrally outward therefrom dis` 4centrally therefrom located one at each side of the U-shaped member through which said bar passes, and means disposed between said flanges and means on the legs of said U- shaped members adapted to be engaged by said first means for retracting the bolt on turning saidbar in either direction.

3. A door latch comprising, a. housing, a latch bolt mounted for reciprocation in said housing, including a U-shaped member of flat metal, spring means acting on the bolt to normally move it to outer position, a bar passing through the housing and between the legs of said U-shaped member, means connected with the bar and means on the legs of said U-shaped member with which said first mentioned means engages for `retractin g t)he bolt against said spring lon turning' said 4. A latch comprising a housing, a latch bolt mounted therein Afor reciprocatory movements including a -U-shaped member ofl fiat metal, spring means acting against the inner end of said U-shaped member for normally projecting thebolt outward, an operating bar passing transversely through said housing `and between the vlegs of said U- shaped member, a member located one at each side of the U-shaped member within said housing through which said bar passes, Y

pins'connecting said last named members, said legs of the U-shaped member being formed with opposed notches at the inner 5. A latch comprising a cylindrical housing having an opening at one end, a'latch bolt mounted for. reciprocation in said hous ing having a head extending through said housing, said bolt includinga member of U- shape having spaced apartlegs each formed at the inner side with two notches, a bar passing transversely through said housing between the legs of said U-shaped member back of said notches, an operating' member of sheet metal comprising an annular flange and an outwardly pressed cap at the center of said fiange located one at each side of said U-shaped member, said bar passing through both of said operating members, said hous-` ing at opposite sides having openings at which the outer ends of the caps are rotatably received, and pins connecting said flanges and normally located in the innermost notches one in each leg of said U-shaped member whereby on turning the operating bar in either direction the latch bolt is retracted, one of said pins remaining in the notch in which it is located and the other extending in the foremost notch in the same leg of the U-shaped member at the extreme inner position of the latch bolt.

6. In a latch, a housing, a latch bolt mountl ed for reciprocation yin said housing comprising a U-shaped member having' spaced apart legs, a disc'secured at the free ends of said legs, said disc having a radial slot therein enlarged at its inner end at the center of said disc, a headed rod having flattened portions at each side adjacent said head connected with said disc, the flattened portions being received in said slot and a latching head at the-outer end of the rod, an operating bar square in cross section extending transversely through said housing between the legs of said U-shaped member, a spring acting on said bolt normally projecting the same outward, and means on the operating bar engaging in means formed at the inner sides of said legs of said U-shaped members for retracting said bolt on rotatin the 'bar on its longitudinal axis in either irection.

7. A door latch comprising a housing, a

latch bolt reciprocally mounted in the housing and having av longitudinally elongated aperture, said aperture having two notches in each of its longer sides and a `rotatable actuating member having two .pins arranged to enter said notches and by rotation of the' actuating member in either direction to retract said latch bolt.

8. A door latch comprising a housing,alatch bolt reciprocally'mounted in the housing and having a longitudinally elongated aperture,

said aperturehaving two notches in each of its elongated sides, one notch of each bar being deeper than the other and a rotatable actuating member having two pins arranged to enter said aperture and saidnotches therein whereby upon rotation of the actuating member in either direction one pin wlll first enter the deeper serration following which i in the rotation the other pin will enter the shallower serration and stop rotation of the actuating member.

9. A door latch comprising a housing, a

.latch bolt reciprocally mounted in the housying and having a longitudinally elongated aperture, each of the elongated sides of said LUCIEN A. DEXTER. 

